By Norah Musega
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers has called on all stakeholders to join efforts towards improving academic results in schools.
Speaking at Kopala Mixed Secondary School, KUPPET assistant executive secretary Rolex Owino urged parents and other leaders to team up in ensuring they play their roles in education effectively as this would in turn promote education and ensurel good learning environment for the students.
Owino accused Nyatike Member of Parliament Hon. Tom Odege for allegedly threatening to storm four learning institutions within his constituency for having performed poorly in the 2020 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.
According to Owino, the sentiments made by the legislator were uncalled for. He said all teachers have equal ability and capacity of impacting knowledge to their learners.
“Learners saw what they planted in the four years they have been in secondary school. The MP should not expect good results from schools with inadequate resources such as laboratory equipment,” said Owino.
He warned the legislator against making such remarks since he is also a board member and should help towards attaining the results.
The area MP, however, noted that there is no excuse for such poor results especially after the constituency office assisted through the national government constituency development fund.
“The government through the constituency offices has been channelling a lot of funds towards the development of public schools as a way of promoting education in the region and, therefore, we do not expect poor results after a learners’ four years stay in school,” said Odege.
Hon. Odege however urged teachers to ensure their learners are well prepared before they get to sit national exams.
“Why would a school head give an excuse of learners being weak thus the poor results in KCSE after spending four years in school and failing to raise such a serious challenge? Our offices are ever open for whatever support needed by learning institutions. Any teacher who feels he is not comfortable and cannot work in the schools within the region is at liberty to leave, we shall look for those willing to serve our people,” said Odege.
He warned the unionist to stop joking with the future of the students by defending teachers without proper information just because he is a union official but should remember he is also a teacher and is responsible for supporting every child within the education system by prioritising the learners’ interest.
“You must know as a teacher your first priority must be the learners before you can defend the teachers on their weakness. These schools only admit learners with 250 marks and above yet half of the candidates get grade D and below. He should analyse the results of Agenga, Moi Nyatike, Kibuon and Okenge on the requirements placed for a student to join the schools. We as parents and leaders shall not allow such laxity from teachers especially when over 200 candidates attain D plain and below,” he added.
